Recording mechanism



Jan; 8, 1929. 7 1,698,576

J. B. BASKERVILLE RECORDING MECHANISM Filed May 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Shut 1 Jan. 8, 1929.

J. B. BASKERVILLE RECORDING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1,925

(706/2 L7. fiaskerw/le ill Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

V UNITED STATES 1,698,576 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BASKERVILLE, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO IMPACTOGRAPH COB- PORATION, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

RECORDING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 29, 1925. semi No. 33,629.

This invention relates to improvements in recording mechanisms.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism adapted for recording sudden accelerations and decelerations in the movements of vehicles, and more particularly rail road cars. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a recording mechanism ofthis character, including a pendulous or swinging member, which is adapted to be operatively displaced by sudden differences in the movements of the vehicle, in conjunction with a record sheet, and a stylus associated with said swingable member for marking the record sheet, together with means automatically operable by the movement of the swingabie member forchanging the position of the stylus with reference to the record sheetso as to record thereon at different positions on the sheet, successive shocks imparted to the railway car.

A further object of the invention is to provide key means for releasing the stylus after the same has moved sufficiently to complete a record of one trip or run of the vehicle, or other specified time, in order to pre pare the mechanism for making a new record, said mechanism prior to the manipula tampering, which may be detected by an examination of the sealing means associated with the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the swingable member in a central position with reference to the housing in which it is mounted, and to provide means for securing the housing to the car structure, said means being adapted to automatically disconnect the holding means for the swingable member, when said means are operated to secure'the mechanism to the car structure.

Other and further objects of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, through my improved mechanism. Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the invention similar to Figure 2 upon an enlarged scale showing parts of the operating mechanism in section. Figure l is a horizontal, sectional view through the swingable member associated with the device on the line 4-it of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view of the marking mechanism on the line 55 of Figure l. Figure 6 is a broken elevational view of the key by which the stylus mechanism may be manipulated. Figure? is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational view of a different embodiment of the actuating means for determining the position of the stylus. Fig. 8 is a detail, fragmentary, transverse sectional view, taken through the bottom of the housing and showing to advantage the screw bolts and their manner of connection with the housing and pendulum.

The invention broadly comprises a housing A, record sheet and means for maintaining the same in position, indicated at B, the movable means sensitive to shocks imparted thereto and indicated at C, the stylus mechanism D associated with said movable means, actuating means E co-operating with the stylus to change its position relative to the movable member, means for releasing the stylus upon completion of the record indicated at F, means for retaining the movable member in a central position, when the device is not in use indicated at G, and means H for securing the mechanism to the car walls, said means co-operating with the retaining means for the movable member to automatically release the same when they are operating to secure the mechanism to the car structure.

' The housing A is of substantially box-like form, within which the recording mechanism proper is disposed. The housing A comprises a body portion 10, and a removable lid 11 for closing the same. The bottom wall 12 of the housing is preferably disposed in wardly of. flanges 13, and secured to such flanges in any suitable manner.

9 The record sheet B is arranged to be disposed upon the inner surface of the front wall cording sheet. The front wall 14 is provided with a plurality of pins 18 upon which is removably disposed a plate 17 which covers the slot 15, said plate being secured in posi-' tion by sealing members 19 which extend through the pins 18, the arrangement being such that the seals have to be broken to gain access to the recording sheet, and thus 1111-. authorized tampering may be immediately detected.

The movable means C comprise a pendulous member swingably mounted upon the shaft extending transversely of the mechanism, said shaft having its ends journaled in journal bearings 21 secured to the front and rear walls of the housing at a central position between the ends thereof, and adjacent the top edges of the same. The memberO is provided with-a hub 22 through which the shaft 20 extends, the body portion of the member C depending centrally from the hub portion as indicated at 23, the portion 23 being weighted at its bottom indicated at 24 to insure uniform movement of the pendulum. The member C is provided with elongated reotangu slot 25 intermediate its ends, providing tide portions 26 and inner surfaces are and 29, a rack 30 27, which on their rabbcted indicate-d being fixedly mourn 1e rabbet 28, and the rab-bet29 prov 'ng a runway for a movable ratcnct 31, said movable ratchet being 'rranged to co-operate with the actuating mechanism E hereinafter more fully described. I

Mounted for sliding movement between the members 26 and 27 is the stylus D. The stylus proper is indicated at 32, and formspart of a body 33, which has shoulders 34 at its forward portion, and is provided with wings 35 at its rear portion, said wings being adapted to bear against the adjacent extensions 36 formed upon the mounting block 37, said mounting blockengaging the inner surfaces of the members 26 and 27 and having the outer ends of the same connected to a plate 38 which slides upon the front faces; of the members 26 and 27, and through which the stylus proper slidably extends, the shoulders 34: of the stylus body portion 33 bearing against the flanges 39 formed upon the menu ber 37. The block 37 has secured thereto a spring 10 which extends over the body portion of the member 33 and normally urges the stylus forwardly. The block 37 also provided with a spring all which bears against one of the wings 35 on the body member 33 and against the stationary rack 28, and is adapted to engage the teeth of said rack to support the mechanism 1) in a definite position with respect to the pendulum C. The opposite side portion of the block 37 is also provided with a spring %2, extending over the other wing 35 of the stylus body and is inturned and adapted to engage the teeth ofthe movable ratchet 31.

The actuating means E for moving the rack 31 comprises a spring 43 which normally presses the ratchet 31 downwardly, the ratchet 31 having a portion a3 projecting beyond the end of the pendulum C, in

movements of the pendulum without actu-.

ation of the recording mechanism, thus allowing for the ordinary shocks imparted to the car without recording the same. a At each side of the offset portion 45 ofthe member 14, the portions 45 of the men ber idproject int-o and-follow the path of the end 43 on so that when the pendulum C the rack 31, swings beyond the offset portion under unusual shock, the rack 31 is forced upwardly,

moving the stylus mechanism upwardly, and

when the pendulum returns to central position, the to initial position, moving past the stylus mechanism wh'ch is held against retur movement by engagement of the spring d1 with the stationary ratchet 28.

An adjusting spring 46 is provided for regulating the movements of the pendulum C, said spring being'connected to an extension 47 on the hub 22, and being adjustably connected to the pin 48 threaded in a bracket 49, the lower end of the pin having a nut 50 threaded thereon.

When the stylus mechanism D has traveled the desired distance along the pendulum, in order to make a new record, the same will have to be removed to the lower portion of the pendulum, and this is accomplished by means of the insertion through suitable open ings 50 in the housing, the pendulum, and the block 37, of the key 51 the body porion of the stylus being provided with an en largedkey slot52 for the reception of the head of the key, turning movement of the key serving to move the stylus body 33 rearwardly against the pressure of the spring 40, thereby moving the wings 35 of the body portion outwardly which disconneotthe springs 41 and 42 from the racks 28 and 29, permitting movement of the stylus mechanism to a lower po sition with reference to the pendulum C.

The retaining means G comprise angular members 51, which are provided with turned ends 52 normally engaging recesses 53 in the pendulum bob 2t, such members being provided with cranks 54 by which they may be disconnected, the members being disposed within the casing, and of course not being accessible fromthe exterior thereof. I The means H for securing the housing A in the car structure, comprise screw bolts 55, and 56, the screw bolts 55 extendingthrough the lower end of the casing, and through the angular members 54 of the retainers 51, each pin being provided with a member 56 which is movably connected to the related angular movable rack 31 is free to return member 54, the construction being suchthat when the screw bolts 55 are screwed into the car wal movement of such screws serves to swing the retainers 51 out of engagement with the pendulumduring the, securing operation. The screws 56 extendthrough .the flanges of the lid 11- such screws when they are fastened to the car structure serving to hold the lid in position upon the casing.

\Vhen it desired to use the mechanism to record shocks imparted to the car structure, a fresh recort sheet B is placed in the guides 16 through the slot- 15, and the platelS secured in position over the slot, the stylus mechanism D being arranged adjacent the lower end of the pendulum C. W hen the' housing A is secured to the car structure by the screw bolts 55, the retainers 51 are released to permit swinging movement of the pendulum C, it being noted also that the screw bolts 56 hold the cover upon the housing, so that the mechanism therein is entirely inaccessible. During the usual and ordinary buff and draft shocks imparted to the car, the pendulum will swing only a limited distance, not sufficient to cause the same to move past the offset portion 45 in the cam means 44; however upon unusual shocks being imparted to the car, such as will swing the pendulum C beyond the offset portion 45, the engaging end 43 of the movable rack will come in contactwiththeportionsofthen1'embers44beyond the offset portion, and be elevated thereby, such elevation. being transmitted to the block 37, carrying the stylus mechanism with the rack, and causing the stylus of course to record the impact upon the sheet 13, the length of the are recorded of course determining the intensity of the impact. iVhen the pendulum returns to central position, as soon as the same is in line with the offset portion 45, the movable rack will be urged to initial position by the spring 43, the spring 42 of the stylus block sliding over the ratchet teeth. However the spring 41 which is in engagement with the teeth ofthe stationary rack 538 will prevent the return of the stylus block 37, and consequently the stylus mechanism will have been advanced or elevated certain extent, successive unusual swinging movements of the pendulum causing a step by step movement of the st means along the pendulum C thus providing means for marking the record sheet B at diti'erent positions for each unusual shock. hen the record is con'ipleted, as at the end of the run or at the end of a certain period of time, the record sheet B may be withdrawn from the housing through the slot 15, and another record sheet inserted in place thereof. In order to move the stylus means toward the bottom of the pendulum means, the key 51 is inserted into the housing and engages the body member 33 carrying the stylus 32, such stylus being retracted upon rotation of the key,

thereby disconnecting the springs 41 and 42 from the ratchet members and 231, permittin the st 'lus mechanism to be moved in position to make a new record. 4

A slightly diiferent embodiment of the mventlon 18 illustrated in F1gure 7, all of the parts except the means for actuating the movable rack being identically similar to those heretofore referred to, and consequently the same will be designated by the same reference characters. In this construction the cam means 44 is entirely eliminated, and such. cam means placed upon the shaft which supports the pendulum, the stationary am men'iberlOlbeing provided with an offset portion 102 with which the end portion 103 of the movable rack 31 engages, a spring 104 being provided similar to the spring 43, except that thesame urges the rack member upwardly instead of downwardly, the operation being such that upon excessive swinging movement of the pendulum C, the movable ratchet 31 is depressed, sliding over the spring 36, but upon the'return of said member 31 under the infiuenceof the spring 104, the stylus means D areelevated as heretofore referred to, and held in an elevated position by means of the spring 41, successive movements of the rack 81 causing successive movements of the stylus means D to new positions so as to obtain a separate-marking upon the sheet of each unusual shock imparted to the mechanism, as before explained.

lVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a record sheet; of a swingable member sensitive to shock; means carried by said swingable member for marking said sheet; and means for automatically changing the position of said marking means with reference to said swingable member.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a record sheet; of a swingable member sensitive to shock; means carried by said swingable member for marking said sheet; and means for automatically changing the position of said marking means with reference to said swingable member, said automatic means being arranged to suecessively advance said marking means relative to said swingable member and said sheet to separately record a plurality of shocks.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with recording means; of a member sensitive to shock and movable relative to said recording means; marking means associated with said movable member and co-operating with said recording means; and means for changing the position of said marking means to obtain a separate record of a plurality of shocks, said means including a member movable with reference to said movable means and arranged to advance said marking means when moving in one direction and to be freed of said marking means when moving in the opposite direction, and means for retaining said marking means in the position assumed when displaced by said movable means.

at. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with a record sheet; of a member movable relative to said record sheet; marking means cooperating with said movable member and said record sheet; means arranged to advance said marking means with reference to said movable memher in one direction, said marking means being retained in advanced position upon return of said advancing means in the opposite direction; and cam means for actuating said advancing means.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with recording means; of a swingable member; marking'means carried by said swingable member and co-oper ating with said recording means; means for advancing said marking means relative to said swingable member upon movement in one direct-ion; means for retaining said marking means in advanced position upon the return of said advancing means; and cam means regulated by movement of said swingable member for actuating said advancing means.

nation with a record sheet; a movable member; marking means carried by said movable member and co-operating with said sheet to mark the same; a stationary rack associated with said movable member; a movablerrack associated with said member; means for actuating said movable rack; and means associated with said marking meansadapted to engage said movable rack and to be advanced thereby, said means including elements cooperating with said stationary rack to hold the marking means in advanced position upon return of said movable rack.

'Z'. In a recording mechanism, the combination with a record sheet;a movable member; marking means carried by said movable member and co-operating with said sheet to mark the same; a stationary rack associated with said movable member; a movable rack associated with said member; means for actuating said movable rack; means associated with said marking means adapted to engage said movable rack and to be advanced thereby, said means including elements cooperating with said stationary rack to hold the marking means in advanced position upon return of said movable rack; means normally urging said movable rack in one direction; and cam means operable upon Leeasve tion to move said movable member relatively to said swingable member; and means associated with said marking means adapted to be advanced by the movement of said movable member.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a record sheet; a swingable member; marking means carried by a swingable member and co-operating with said sheet to mark the same; means movable relatively to said swingable member; means conforming to the arc of swing of said swingable member and being arranged to impart successive movements to said movable member; means associated with said marking means to be progressively advanced by said movable member.

10. A device of the character described, including a swingable member; means longitudinally movable relative to said swingable member; an element longitudinally movable with reference to said swingable member and co-operating with said longitudinally movable means to advance the same when said element is moved in one direction and to move pastsaid Jeans in an opposite direction;

cluding a stylus, said marking means being provided with spring means; a stationarv rack on said swingable member adapted to be engaged by said spring means, and a D'lOV-' able rack adapted to be engaged by said spring means, said stylus being normally urged to operative position by said spring means: and means for imparting rcciprocation to said movable rack.

In a device ot the character described, comprising a recordsheet; a member swingable with reference to said record sheet;

marking means associated. with said swingable member; means for retaining said swing able member in a central positon when said mechanism is not in use; and meansi'or securing said mechanism inoperative posit-ion,

said retaining means being arranged so that connection of said securing means serves to disconnect said retaining means to permit swinging movement of said swingable memher.

13. A recording mechanism including a 5 housing equipped with marking means swingable in response to shocks, a record sheet fixedly carried by the housing in the path of movement of the marker, and means for automaticaiiy feeding the marker along the sheet during swinging movement of the marking 10 means In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my. name this 21st day of May 1925.

JOHN B. BASKERVILLE. 

